Want to hear all kinds of great band music but don’t want the pocket-pinching that goes with a festival? Mumbai has a Bandstand Revival Project that does away with all that and more. Is it a model other cities can follow?

| TNN | May 18, 2012, 12.00 AM IST

Ankur and The Ghalat Family perform at Dadar Chowpatty

When you offer the word 'free' as bait as far as musical evenings go, you have to be prepared for arched eyebrows and questioning glances. Nobody does that thing anymore. At least, that's what you'd think. Such events cost money and nobody performs for free unless they're unknowns, right?

Well, with events like the Bandstand Revival Project organised by the Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, that is set to change. The Project seeks to "promote cultural links in the city by reinstating live bands' performances in open areas in the evening hours and by encouraging live outdoor gigs in the city."Popular Indian acts are putting their clout behind the event to promote the revival of the city's bandstand culture.

Says Kavita Sharma of the Bombay Chamber, "The British constructed dome-shaped structures (bandstands) at several places, where bands would perform at sunset every evening and the general public could come and enjoy watching them for free. That culture continued till Independence but slowly died thereafter. Most of these areas are defunct as some come under silent zones today."

It was then decided to "reinstate the bands" at the Bandstands and in 2007, the Project began with the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) and the Mumbai Police band pitching in. Open to the general public, anybody could come, listen and leave. Since it's open to everyone, "there would be no need for a captive audience", explains Kavita.

She adds, "Certain bands connect and we have all types performing and of course, there's quality control. Bands are shortlisted and those selected come through word-of-mouth." Stuart Da Costa (of indie outfit Something Relevant), who is also the Bandstand Project's manager, muses, "It's damn difficult these days to get a gig at pubs etc. Also, younger bands don't get to perform there. And as far as audiences go, the extremes (younger children, senior citizens) are ignored. And when you're at an open-air venue like Dadar Chowpatty Bandstand performing to around 900 people at any given time at an open-to-all event at a place that's at least 5°C cooler, it's another experience altogether. And at sunset, it's almost poetic and makes the city feel so... beautiful."

Old-world charm and weather aside, the Project's following is such, says Kavita (citing an anecdote), that in 2008, a heavy downpour that began three days before the finale, did nothing to deter crowds from milling in. None of the artistes wanted to cancel either! People still came. Dr Atindra Sen, the Director-General of the Bombay Chamber informs us that they won't stop at this. "There was a proposal made to have a Dilli Haat-like experience in Mumbai but we're still waiting for it to be approved. Things are looking up."

Meanwhile, Paradigm Shift, the Rajeev Raja Combine, the MCGM band and Chin2 Bhosle perform in Mumbai this week as part of the Project finale. Well, it's a good enough cause and who knows, other cities might come up with something similar.

PSST: Bangalore is interested in replicating the concept. It remains to be seen how they adapt it to their city's culture, tradition and open spaces.

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